Drink serving temperature maintainer

ABSTRACT

A hot (cold) drink heat (chill) maintainer formed as a floating internal lid, in addition to the external sealed lid, that is placed on top of a drink poured into a suitable drink cup. The hot drink heat maintainer additionally insulates and maintains heat (or chill) within a drink poured for consumption. Because the hot drink heat maintainer floats directly on the top of the liquid, rather than being suspended above the liquid as with a common cup lid, insulating properties of the hot drink heat maintainer are brought directly to bear in maintaining heat in the drink, particularly as the drink is being consumed. The hot drink heat maintainer adds a layer of insulation directly and continuously to the top of a hot drink such as coffee, to prevent or slow heat from escaping from the drink to the surrounding air as it is being consumed.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.60/621,675, entitled “Drink Serving Temperature Maintainer,” filed Oct.26, 2004, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to apparatus for and methods ofconsuming hot or cold drinks. More particularly, it relates to apparatusand methods for continuously maintaining a serving temperature of a hotor cold drink throughout its consumption.

2. Background

Drinks are a necessary part of human life. In addition to variousflavorings, carbonation, etc., drinks are often best if served hot orcold.

Hot drinks are often served in an insulated cup, e.g., an 8 oz.Styrofoam cup with a plastic air tight lid that snaps on top after thehot drink has been poured into the individual serving sized cup.

The larger the cup is, the longer it will generally take to fullyconsume. The longer a drink takes to consume, the closer it will becometo the ambient temperature, thereby not being as hot.

To counteract the loss of heat (or cold) in a drink, the sides of thecup are often insulated. A plastic, non-insulated top is often used ontop of the cup. A portion of the top is often removed to allow theconsumer to drink the liquid therethrough.

As the drink is consumed, the top surface of the hot liquid goes fartherand farther down the cup, which is of course natural. This increases theamount of air between the top surface of the liquid and the cup lid.While sealed air is an insulator of sorts, it is not a good one.Moreover, together with a lid that has an opening allowing consumptiontherethrough, the air is an even worse insulator. Thus, generallyspeaking, the more a drink is consumed, the greater the air gap on topof the liquid, and the worse the insulative effect of the air betweenthe surface of the liquid and the cup lid.

There is a need for improved insulation in a hot (or cold) drink,minimizing the loss of heat as a drink is consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a drinktemperature maintainer comprises a floatable disk adapted for floatingon top of, and in contact with a top surface of, a liquid as it isconsumed through a cup. A method of maintaining temperature in a drinkpoured for consumption in accordance with another aspect of theinvention comprises placing a floating, insulative temperaturemaintainer in a drink cup. A drink is poured for consumption from saiddrink cup. The floating, insulative temperature maintaining disk floatsin direct contact with a top surface of the drink during an entireconsumption of the drink from the drink cup by a consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following description with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an insulated cup together with an exemplary hot drink heatmaintainer (or cold drink chill maintainer) floating on a drink pouredtherein, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a floating exemplary hot drink heat maintainerhaving one of many possible circumferential shapes, in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3G show side views of exemplary hot drink heat maintainershaving different thickness variations across a diameter, in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a floating exemplary hot drink heat maintainerhaving another one of many possible circumferential shapes, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a floating exemplary hot drink heat maintainerhaving yet another one of many possible circumferential shapes, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a floating exemplary hot drink heat maintainerhaving still another one of many possible circumferential shapes, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a hot drink heat maintainer (or acorollary cold drink chill maintainer) formed as a floating internallid, in addition to the external sealed lid, that is placed on top of adrink poured into a suitable drink cup. The hot drink heat maintaineradditionally insulates and maintains heat (or chill) within a drinkpoured for consumption. Because the hot drink heat maintainer floatsdirectly on the top of the liquid, rather than being suspended above theliquid as with a common top or lid of the cup, insulating properties ofthe hot drink heat maintainer are brought directly to bear inmaintaining heat in the drink.

This is particularly true as the drink is being consumed. For instance,as a hot drink is consumed, the upper surface of the hot drink becomeslower and lower in the cup. This corresponds to a larger and largerdistance between the upper portion of the drink and the lid of the cup.This larger distance is filled with air, which has relatively weakinsulating properties.

The present inventor has appreciated the weak insulating properties ofair, and has developed a simple device and method for continuouslyinsulating a hot drink as it is being consumed, throughout itsconsumption period.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, heat isprevented from escaping from the hot drink being continuously insulatedon all sides. A conventional hot drink cup insulates only from a bottomand sides. The top of a hot drink is exposed to air, albeit air withinthe cup. Nevertheless, the relatively small insulating properties ofmoving air provides little insulative properties, as have beenappreciated by the present inventor.

The present invention adds a layer of insulation directly andcontinuously to the top of a hot drink such as coffee, to prevent orslow heat from escaping from the drink to the surrounding air as it isbeing consumed.

FIG. 1 shows an insulated cup together with an exemplary hot drink heatmaintainer (or cold drink chill maintainer) floating on a drink pouredtherein, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, an insulated cup 200 has a hot drink210 poured therein. On top of the hot drink a hot drink heat maintainer100 is dropped in. The hot drink heat maintainer is importantly of aweight and consistency that will allow it to float on top of the poureddrink 210.

The hot drink heat maintainer 100 is preferably made of an insulatingmaterial such as Styrofoam or other appropriate type material. A sealedhollow material is also possible, such as a sealed, hollow extrusion ofa plastic shape.

In an average hot drink cup 200, the disclosed embodiments of the hotdrink maintainer 100 is generally between 1½″ to 2½″ in diameter, thoughother sizes and shapes are possible and within the principles of thepresent invention.

In operation, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 is placed on top of thehot drink 210 once the hot drink 210 is poured into the relevant cup200. Alternatively, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 may be placed inthe relevant cup 200 before the hot drink 210 is poured, with the hotdrink liquid being poured into the cup 200 over the hot drink heatmaintainer 100. In such case, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 willmerely float to the top of the hot drink 210 either during or after thedrink 210 is poured. When floating on top of the hot drink liquid 210,the hot drink heat maintainer 100 will aid in maintaining heat withinthe hot drink 210 so that the drink 210 stays hotter significantlylonger than it would have without the use of the hot drink heatmaintainer 100.

In disclosed embodiments, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 is kept incontinuous contact with the drink 210 being consumed (e.g., coffee),however preferably places little if any downward pressure on the drink210. Thus, a light weight material such as Styrofoam is preferred.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a floating exemplary hot drink heat maintainer100 having one of many possible circumferential shapes, in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the hot drink heat maintainer hasnumerous linear portions 301-305, each preferably shaped so as to notallow the entire circumference of the hot drink heat maintainer 100 a(all sub-categories of the 100 reference, such as 100 a, 100 b, etc.,are all collectively referred to herein as a hot drink heat maintainer100) to contact the internal sides of the cup at the same time. Thisallows greater mobility of the hot drink heat maintainer as the drink isconsumed, and minimizes the affects to the consumer as the drink isconsumed. Since the hot drink heat maintainer floats so freely on top ofthe hot drink 210, the consumer is barely (if at all) aware of thepresence of the hot drink heat maintainer 100.

Though a perfect fit within the side walls of a hot drink cup 200 mightbe ideal, for practical purposes, as a drink 210 is consumed and theliquid recedes within the cup 200, the hot drink cup maintainer 100passes through continually shrinking cross sectional diameters of atypical cup 200 from top to bottom. Thus, the hot drink heat maintainer100 might preferably be the same diameter of a bottom of a cup 200 inwhich it is used, allowing operation of the hot drink heat maintainer100 continuously until the hot drink 210 reaches the bottom of the cup200 (i.e., is completely consumed).

The thickness of the disclosed embodiments of the hot drink heatmaintainer 100 may be about ½″, or less, particularly in a centerportion thereof. For instance, in one embodiment, the thickness of thehot drink heat maintainer 100 is about ⅛″ in its thickest part. Thethickest portion of the hot drink heat maintainer 100 is generallytoward a center, though not necessarily toward a center.

FIGS. 3A to 3G show side views of exemplary hot drink heat maintainers100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 100 e, 100 f, 100 g and 100 h having differentthickness variations across a diameter, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 bhas a thickest vertical area in a center, with thinner vertical areasabout a circumference thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 c has arelatively consistent vertical cross-sectional thickness, perhaps withthe exception of the edges, which are preferably thinned to allowminimal friction with the inside edges of the cup as the hot drink 210is consumed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, both the upper and lower surfaces of thehot drink heat maintainer 100 d bulge in thickness toward a center,again with thinner edges to minimize friction when rubbing and slidingalong the internal edges of the cup.

Other embodiments are possible wherein the thickest portion of the hotdrink heat maintainer 100 e is near a circumference of the hot drinkmaintainer as shown in FIG. 3D. In such a case, an embodiment of a hotdrink heat maintainer 100 e may be formed from a lower approximate ½″ ofan inverted hot drink cup.

In yet another exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3E, the hot drink heatmaintainer 100 f may be non-planar. For instance, the hot drink heatmaintainer 100 f may have a generally curved in nature, particularlytoward a center.

As shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3F and 3G, a portion(e.g., a center portion) may have a cavity formed therein intended forplacement against the surface of the drink 210. When in use, the void(357, 358) formed by the non-planar inner surface of the hot drink heatmaintainer 100 g, 100 h, preferably captures and maintains a givenportion of air, which acts as an insulator in the present embodimentslargely because of its ability to capture and maintain a constantsampling of airspace thereunder. Once heated, the captured air maintainsa good insulative property. Thus, by preferably not allowing exchange ofthe captured air under the hot drink heat maintainer 100 g, 100 h as thedrink 210 is consumed, the captured air maintains a constant insulativeproperty against the surface of the drink 210.

The hot drink heat maintainer 100 may be of any shape or size, so longas it is capable of floating on top of a hot drink 210 within a cup 200.In disclosed embodiments, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 ispreferably circular in shape, oblong in shape, square in shape,pentagonal in shape, etc. Within the parameters that the hot drink heatmaintainer 100 is preferably no larger than the diameter (or othershape) of the inside bottom of the cup 200 in which it is used, the hotdrink heat maintainer 100 may have decorative and/or functional shapes.For instance, other than circular, the hot drink heat maintainer 100 mayhave a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a square shape, a squareshape with rounded edges (FIG. 4), a pentagonal shape, an octagonalshape (FIG. 5), an oblong, an oval shape (FIG. 6), etc., each allowingfree and easy rotation of the hot drink heat maintainer 100 while inoperation floating on top of a hot drink 210 while it is being consumed.The particular shape being used may relate to the shape of a companylogo, increasing brand awareness. Virtually any shape is possible, solong as the hot drink heat maintainer 100 is free to float directly onthe top surface of a hot drink 210 as it is being consumed, throughoutits consumption in a given cup, glass or mug.

While the term ‘cup’ 200 is used herein, such term should be interpretedas encompassing any vial, cup, mug, glass, etc. from which an individualportion of a hot (or cold) drink 210 may be consumed.

The shape of the hot drink heat maintainer 100 may include open spacessuch as slots, holes, or other openings allowing fluid to passtherethrough, so long as some insulative material continues to float ontop of the drink 210 being consumed, and thus slow the process of heatescaping from the hot drink 210 being consumed, as it is being consumed.

The hot drink heat maintainer 100 may have a small handle or otherholder in a convenient place, e.g., on top, so as to ease placement ofthe hot drink heat maintainer 100 either before or after a hot drink 210is dispensed into a single serving cup.

While the present invention is disclosed in embodiments relating tomaintaining heat in a hot drink as it is consumed, the principles,methods and apparatus are equally applicable to maintaining coolnesswithin a cold drink as it is consumed. For instance, a hot drink heatmaintainer 100 may be used atop a soda pop drink to continuouslymaintain coolness and/or carbonation within the drink 210 as it is beingconsumed.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to makevarious modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A drink temperature maintainer, comprising: a floatable disk adaptedfor floating on top of, and in contact with a top surface of, a liquidas it is consumed through a cup.
 2. The drink temperature maintaineraccording to claim 1, wherein: said liquid is a hot liquid.
 3. The drinktemperature maintainer according to claim 1, wherein: said liquid is acold liquid.
 4. The drink temperature maintainer according to claim 1,wherein: said floatable disk is formed from a plastic material.
 5. Thedrink temperature maintainer according to claim 4, wherein: said plasticmaterial is Styrofoam.
 6. The drink temperature maintainer according toclaim 1, wherein: said floatable disk is able to float on said liquidfrom top to bottom as said drink is consumed, without substant frictioncaused by contact with an inner side of said cup.
 7. The drinktemperature maintainer according to claim 1, wherein: said cup is aceramic mug.
 8. The drink temperature maintainer according to claim 1,wherein: said cup is a disposable Styrofoam cup.
 9. The drinktemperature maintainer according to claim 1, wherein: said cup is apaper cup.
 10. The drink temperature maintainer according to claim 1,wherein: said cup is a plastic cup.
 11. The drink temperature maintaineraccording to claim 1, wherein: said cup is a glass.
 12. A method ofmaintaining temperature in a drink poured for consumption, comprising:placing a floating, insulative temperature maintainer in a drink cup;and pouring a drink for consumption from said drink cup; wherein saidfloating, insulative temperature maintaining disk floats in directcontact with a top surface of said drink during an entire consumption ofsaid drink from said drink cup by a consumer.
 13. The method formaintaining temperature in a drink poured for consumption according toclaim 12, wherein: said drink is poured after said drink temperaturemaintainer is placed in said cup.
 14. The method for maintainingtemperature in a drink poured for consumption according to claim 12,wherein: said drink is poured before said drink temperature maintaineris placed in said cup.
 15. Apparatus for maintaining temperature in adrink poured for consumption, comprising: means for placing a floating,insulative temperature maintainer in a drink cup; and means for pouringa drink for consumption from said drink cup; wherein said floating,insulative temperature maintaining disk floats in direct contact with atop surface of said drink during an entire consumption of said drinkfrom said drink cup by a consumer.
 16. The apparatus for maintainingtemperature in a drink poured for consumption according to claim 15,wherein: said means for pouring pours said drink after said means forplacing places said drink temperature maintainer in said cup.
 17. Theapparatus for maintaining temperature in a drink poured for consumptionaccording to claim 15, wherein: said means for pouring pours said drinkbefore said means for placing places said drink temperature maintainerin said cup.